Israeli forces shoot, injure 4 Palestinians in Gaza protests

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Israeli forces shot and injured four Palestinians with live fire when clashes erupted near the border in the Gaza Strip on Friday, the Ministry of Health said.

Spokesman for Gaza’s Ministry of Health Ashraf al-Qidra told Ma’an two young men were shot east of Beit Hanoun near the border with Israel in the north of the coastal enclave.

Two others were shot near the borderline east of Gaza City, al-Qidra said, adding that two men suffered from severe tear gas inhalation east of al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an they were looking into the reports.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip crowd near the borders with Israel every Friday to show solidarity with what Palestinians in besieged coastal enclave have termed the “Jerusalem Intifada” taking place in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Nearly 30 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip since the unrest spread in October, the majority shot dead during clashes on the Gaza-Israel border.

More than 1,300 Palestinians have been injured by Israeli forces since the start of this year, the majority during clashes that broke out with the Israeli military during protests in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

UN rights monitor to the occupied Palestinian territory Makarim Wibisono earlier this week condemned excessive use of force used by Israeli military forces in the context of protests and urged the Israeli authorities to comply with international law regarding the use of force and firearms.